đ§ I Stopped Overthinking for 30 Days
How silence, journaling, and breath work helped me reclaim peace and presence.
By WilfredPublished 6 months ago ⢠3 min read

There was a time when my brain wouldnât shut up.
From the second I opened my eyes to the moment I finally crashed into sleep (if I even could sleep), my mind was running like a broken record.
"What if I mess up?"
"Did I say something wrong?"
"Why am I like this?"
I was overthinking everything conversations, decisions, my future, my past, even things that hadnât happened yet.
It felt like I was mentally exhausted before I even got out of bed.
But then, something shifted. I made a promise to myself:
âWhat if I just try⌠30 days of not overthinking?â
I didnât expect it to work. I didnât even know how to start. But I can tell you now those 30 days changed everything.
Hereâs exactly what happened.
đ Week 1: Realizing How Bad It Really Was
The first few days felt impossible.
Iâd try to stop my spiraling thoughts, and within seconds, I'd be thinking about thinking.
It was like trying to stop a storm with a whisper.
I started writing down every time I caught myself overthinking. In just 2 days, I had filled 5 pages of my notebook.
Thatâs when I realized: overthinking wasnât just a habit it was an addiction.
An addiction to control.
An addiction to predicting pain before it even arrived.
And it was stealing my peace.
đ§ââď¸ Week 2: Learning to Let Go (Slowly)
I didnât want to fight my thoughts anymore. So I tried something different: I let them be there, but I didnât follow them.
Instead, I whispered to myself:
> âThat thought is not a fact.â
âItâs okay not to have all the answers.â
âLet it pass.â
I also began something simple but powerful: deep breathing 3 times a day, 3 minutes each.
At first, it felt silly. But within a few days, my mind felt⌠softer. Like there was a little more space in my head.
I stopped needing to fix everything mentally. And guess what? Nothing fell apart.
đą Week 3: Unplugging the Noise
I made a tough decision: I limited my social media time to just 30 minutes a day.
Why? Because most of my overthinking was triggered by comparison.
Other peopleâs perfect lives.
Other peopleâs opinions.
Other peopleâs timelines.
When I cut that noise out, I began hearing my own voice again.
I started doing things for me:
Listening to music that made me feel calm
Going on silent walks
Drinking my tea without multitasking
Journaling at night instead of scrolling
These tiny changes made a big difference. I felt more present. More real.
đ Week 4: Peace Becomes Familiar
Something beautiful started happening:
I stopped fearing silence.
I used to hate quiet moments because they gave space for overthinking. But now, I welcomed them.
I even enjoyed them.
By the end of the 30 days, I wasnât cured but I was free in ways I had never been before.
My thoughts were still there⌠but they werenât in control anymore.
I was.
đĄ Hereâs What Actually Changed in My Life
1. I sleep better now.
Overthinking used to keep me up at night. Now, I fall asleep without wrestling my mind.
2. I trust myself more.
Instead of analyzing every choice 100 times, I pick and move on. Thatâs power.
3. I enjoy small things again.
A warm shower. A short walk. Laughing without checking my phone. Joy came back.
4. I stopped fearing the future.
Overthinking used to make the future feel scary. Now I see it as open, not dangerous.
5. People noticed.
Friends told me, âYou seem calmer.â
That was the greatest compliment I could receive.
⨠3 Simple Tools That Helped Me the Most
1. The 3-Minute Rule:
Whenever I felt overwhelmed, I paused and did deep breathing for just 3 minutes. It reset my brain.
2. Thought Journaling:
Instead of overthinking in my head, I dumped it on paper. It helped me see how irrational some thoughts were.
3. âWhat If It Works Out?â Question:
I started flipping my thinking.
Instead of âWhat if I fail?â
I asked: âWhat if it works out?â
That one shift gave me so much peace.
đŹ If Youâre Struggling With Overthinking...
Please hear this:
Youâre not broken.
Youâre not crazy.
Youâre not alone.
Overthinking is often a response to pain, trauma, or fear. But it doesnât have to run your life.
Try this for 30 days. Start small. Be kind to yourself.
You donât have to think your way out of everything.
Sometimes, the answer isnât in the mind.
Itâs in the pause.
â¤ď¸ Final Thought
I used to believe that thinking more meant I was being careful, responsible, smart.
Now I know: Peace is smarter.
And peace starts when you stop believing every thought your brain throws at you.
So today, I invite you to ask yourself:
What would my life look like if I gave my mind a little more silence⌠and my heart a little more space?
You might be surprised by what changes.
About the Creator
Wilfred
Writer and storyteller exploring life, creativity, and the human experience. Sharing real moments, fiction, and thoughts that inspire, connect, and spark curiosityâone story at a time.




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